Tatanagar–Thawe Express

The Tatanagar–Thawe Express is an express train belonging to South Eastern Railway zone that runs between Tatanagar Junction and Thawe Junction in India. It is currently being operated with 18181/18182 train numbers on a quad-weekly basis.

Service
The 18181/Tatanagar–Thawe Express has an average speed of 36 km/h and covers 718 km in 19h 50 m. The 18182/Thawe–Tatanagar Express has an average speed of 36 km/h and covers 718 km in 20h 10m.

Route and halts
The important halts of the train are:


 * Tatanagar Junction
 * Purulia Junction
 * Joychandi Pahar railway station (Adra Junction alternative)
 * Asansol Junction
 * Jasidih Junction
 * Jhajha
 * Kiul Junction
 * Barauni Junction
 * Samastipur Junction
 * Muzaffarpur Junction
 * Hajipur Junction
 * Chhapra Junction
 * Siwan Junction
 * Thawe Junction

Coach composition
The train has standard ICF rakes with a maximum speed of 110 km/h. The train consists of 23 coaches:


 * 1 AC II Tier
 * 3 AC III Tier
 * 12 Sleeper coaches
 * 5 Second Seating cum General coaches
 * 2 Seating cum Luggage Rake

Traction
Both trains are hauled by a Santragachi Loco Shed-based WAP-4 or Asansol Loco Shed-based WAP-4 electric locomotive from Tatanagar to Asansol. From Asansol, trains are hauled by a Asansol Loco Shed-based WAP-4 electric locomotive uptil Thawe and vice versa.

Extension
The train ran between Tatanagar and Samastipur when introduced. It got extended to Muzaffarpur later. This was again extended to Gorakhpur during early 1990s but later got short terminated to Chhapra. The train was again extended to Thawe Junction from 12 April 2021 on the request of Gopalganj MP, Dr. Alok Kumar Suman.

Rake sharing
The train shared its rake with 15083/15084 Utsarg Express before COVID-19 pandemic in India. Currently it shares its rake with Tatanagar-Katihar Express.

Slip coaches
It used to carry the slip coaches of Tatanagar-Katihar Express before COVID-19 pandemic in India, which used to get detached at Barauni Junction. Now Tatanagar-Katihar Express is running independently (now via New Barauni) with Rake Sharing with this train.

Direction reversal
The train reverses its direction 1 times:


 * Asansol Junction